This. Seems bizarre to me that a flag can be BANNED. Although, then again, I remember that absurd news story about a few kids getting suspended for wearing American Flag shirts to school on Cinco De Mayo, so I guess anything is possible.

mikaloyd:Its not New York. They are more about taking freedoms ths century than giving any back.

yawn.

I was amazed at how many Irish/Italian flags I saw when I worked in New Jersey. My SO's grandparents and their next door neighbors are all Irish immigrants and they don't feel the need to declare that on their front lawn.

All sorts of towns have laws about signs, particularly if they are blocking sidewalks. That's what this ordinance was about, and because Americans will be Americans, they had to put in a special clause allowing you to block the sidewalk with an American flag and someone blocked the sidewalk with a Greek flag and when they cited him he complained about the Irish flag because the officer citing him didn't understand how to explain to him that it was about the sidewalk not the flag. The town is fixing it.

Wellon Dowd:I fail to understand how such a ban isn't blatantly unconstitutional.

Rent Party:Honest Bender: Why would such a ban exist in the first place?

Because America, fark Yeah! And Jesus, too.

The Irish flag flys right next to the US flag in front of my house every day. I defy the state to come and tell me I have to take it down.

kiwimoogle84:Honest Bender: Why would such a ban exist in the first place?

This. Seems bizarre to me that a flag can be BANNED. Although, then again, I remember that absurd news story about a few kids getting suspended for wearing American Flag shirts to school on Cinco De Mayo, so I guess anything is possible.

FTFA:The obscure ordinance was passed in the 1990s as part of a previous administration's attempt to clean up an unsightly commercial area, according to Marks. The language was ambiguous, however, and the ordinance banned [ALL] flags, but carved out an exemption for the U.S. flag...The ordinance was little noticed until a Greek restaurant was cited for flying a Greek flag that partially blocked a sidewalk.

This has zero to do with "banning" any country's flags, and is a perfect example of people screaming "I'm oppressed!" for no good reason.

FTFA: City officials have proposed amending the ordinance to allow the flying of national flags, but the revision process requires a couple of readings and cannot be finished until April or May, she said. In the meantime, enforcement has been suspended.

And also FTFA:"Everyone can fly their flag as long as it's not interfering with a right of way or creating a safety hazard," she said.

BojanglesPaladin:This has zero to do with "banning" any country's flags, and is a perfect example of people screaming "I'm oppressed!" for no good reason.

They explicitly excluded the American flag from the definition of "flag," so that makes it about the nationality of the flag. If it was just about flags then there is no reason to exclude specified ones.

Section 17-2 of the Atlantic Beach, Florida, Code of Ordinances:

Flag: A piece of cloth or similar material having a distinctive size, color, and design used as a symbol, standard, signal and other similar items of recognition and may include insignias of governmental, religious, charitable, fraternal or other organizations. Any flag and pole or attachment that frequently holds a flag shall be deemed a permanent flag. This definition of flag shall not include the flag of the United States of America.

Wellon Dowd:BojanglesPaladin: This has zero to do with "banning" any country's flags, and is a perfect example of people screaming "I'm oppressed!" for no good reason.

They explicitly excluded the American flag from the definition of "flag," so that makes it about the nationality of the flag. If it was just about flags then there is no reason to exclude specified ones.

Section 17-2 of the Atlantic Beach, Florida, Code of Ordinances:

Flag: A piece of cloth or similar material having a distinctive size, color, and design used as a symbol, standard, signal and other similar items of recognition and may include insignias of governmental, religious, charitable, fraternal or other organizations. Any flag and pole or attachment that frequently holds a flag shall be deemed a permanent flag. This definition of flag shall not include the flag of the United States of America.

GBB:Wellon Dowd: BojanglesPaladin: This has zero to do with "banning" any country's flags, and is a perfect example of people screaming "I'm oppressed!" for no good reason.

They explicitly excluded the American flag from the definition of "flag," so that makes it about the nationality of the flag. If it was just about flags then there is no reason to exclude specified ones.

Section 17-2 of the Atlantic Beach, Florida, Code of Ordinances:

Flag: A piece of cloth or similar material having a distinctive size, color, and design used as a symbol, standard, signal and other similar items of recognition and may include insignias of governmental, religious, charitable, fraternal or other organizations. Any flag and pole or attachment that frequently holds a flag shall be deemed a permanent flag. This definition of flag shall not include the flag of the United States of America.

BojanglesPaladin:The obscure ordinance was passed in the 1990s as part of a previous administration's attempt to clean up an unsightly commercial area, according to Marks. The language was ambiguous, however, and the ordinance banned [ALL] flags, but carved out an exemption for the U.S. flag...The ordinance was little noticed until a Greek restaurant was cited for flying a Greek flag that partially blocked a sidewalk.

This has zero to do with "banning" any country's flags, and is a perfect example of people screaming "I'm oppressed!" for no good reason.

So, a town ordinance thinking clearly enough to carve out an exemption could only think far enough to carve out an exemption for one national flag, and no others.

No, probably not a Jingoistic bone in that there body of patriots, I'm sure.

Rent Party:BojanglesPaladin:The obscure ordinance was passed in the 1990s as part of a previous administration's attempt to clean up an unsightly commercial area, according to Marks. The language was ambiguous, however, and the ordinance banned [ALL] flags, but carved out an exemption for the U.S. flag...The ordinance was little noticed until a Greek restaurant was cited for flying a Greek flag that partially blocked a sidewalk.

This has zero to do with "banning" any country's flags, and is a perfect example of people screaming "I'm oppressed!" for no good reason.

So, a town ordinance thinking clearly enough to carve out an exemption could only think far enough to carve out an exemption for one national flag, and no others.

No, probably not a Jingoistic bone in that there body of patriots, I'm sure.

kiwimoogle84:Honest Bender: Why would such a ban exist in the first place?

This. Seems bizarre to me that a flag can be BANNED. Although, then again, I remember that absurd news story about a few kids getting suspended for wearing American Flag shirts to school on Cinco De Mayo, so I guess anything is possible.

Doubly so considering the car dealership in Tampa won their fight to fly their giant Rebel Flag years ago when they tried to make them take it down as it is private property...

StoPPeRmobile:Rent Party: BojanglesPaladin:The obscure ordinance was passed in the 1990s as part of a previous administration's attempt to clean up an unsightly commercial area, according to Marks. The language was ambiguous, however, and the ordinance banned [ALL] flags, but carved out an exemption for the U.S. flag...The ordinance was little noticed until a Greek restaurant was cited for flying a Greek flag that partially blocked a sidewalk.

This has zero to do with "banning" any country's flags, and is a perfect example of people screaming "I'm oppressed!" for no good reason.

So, a town ordinance thinking clearly enough to carve out an exemption could only think far enough to carve out an exemption for one national flag, and no others.

No, probably not a Jingoistic bone in that there body of patriots, I'm sure.